Dragon Age Inquisition earns an M rating from the ESRB

The news that Dragon Age Inquisition has earned an M rating from the ESRB probably didn’t take many by surprise. After all, the game’s two predecessors both received the same rating. What is surprising, however, was what the ESRB report revealed about the game’s violence and sexual content. Read on for all the sexy and/or bloody details.

The ESRB, or Entertainment Software Ratings Board issued their report on Dragon Age Inquisition earlier today, giving the game an M rating for blood, intense violence, nudity, sexual Content and strong language. Or as I like to call them, the fab five. This probably doesn’t come as a shock to many, considering Bioware’s history with both the Dragon Age and Mass Effect series. The Edmonton, Alberta based developer has never shied away from including mature themes in their games, and it doesn’t look like their latest epic will be any different. However, some interesting tidbits about Dragon Age Inquisition were revealed in the ESRB report, offering a glimpse at the game’s depictions of sex and violence.

As far as the game’s violence is concerned, the ESRB more or less decribed what we’ve already seen in the many trailers and live streams Bioware has released.

Cutscenes sometimes depict characters impaled or getting their throats slit. Violent sequences are often highlighted by cries of pain, gurgling/gushing sounds, and large blood-splatter effects; blood remains on the ground in several environments.

Now we get to the fun part. When it comes to Dragon Age Inquisition’s sexual content, the ESRB has the following to say.

The game includes some sexual material: a female character briefly depicted in front of a man’s torso (fellatio is implied); characters depicted topless or with exposed buttocks while lying in bed or after sex; some dialogue referencing sex/sexuality (e.g., “’I will bring myself sexual pleasure later, while thinking about this with great respect’” and “The way your t*ts bounce when I pin your arms and take you on the side of the bed…”).

Joe was born in a time of war. A console war. Two electronic titans were locked in a heated battle for the living rooms of America. Which titans, you ask? Well, the Fairchild Channel F and the Atari 2600 of course. You see, Joe is old. So many of his favorite games tend to be on the older side as well. But that hasn’t stopped him from developing unhealthy obsessions with such modern franchises as Halo and Mass Effect. Just don’t tell him how long it’s been since the original Metroid was released. His aging heart can’t take the shock.